You can download the official Minnesota Fishing Regulations on the Minnesota DNR web site.

Ice fishing on Minnesota's Lake of the Woods & Rainy River area truly offers a unique and satisfying winter experience. Each year more visitors return to the area as they hear by word of mouth from their friends or relatives about this exciting wilderness area. Sprawling Lake of the Woods is the largest inland freshwater lake in the continental U. S. next to the great lakes and is truly considered "big water" country. Even so, it doesn't take long to get out on the ice where the action is waiting.

There are approximately 45 resorts in Lake of the Woods County that are open year around. A wide range of winter services is offered. Visitors can have all the conveniences of home as they stay in a warm cabin, condo, motel or sleeper fish house. Travel is available in heated track vehicles: van, bombardier (which seats 12); or by conventional trucks on plowed roads across the ice.

Lake of the Woods Passenger Service offers winter trips from the south shore to the Northwest Angle and Islands area, so you can experience the best of both fishing worlds. For reservations call 218-556-9444.

More unusual modes of transportation are becoming the norm as hovercrafts glide over the ice on a cushion of air, and tundra buggies with huge monster truck tires conquer the terrain. Most all transportation is equipped with some form of floatation for safety purposes. Ice three to four feet thick during mid winter is not uncommon. However, it is always good to check with the locals for the current conditions, especially at the beginning and end of the season.

The winter take usually consists of limits of walleye, sauger, and northern pike, as well as jumbo perch, and white fish which is good smoked. At the beginning of the season, usually around December 1, depending on the weather, there is a lot of action in the frozen bays and shoreline areas. Walleye fishing tends to be especially good at dawn and dusk with sauger action throughout the day. Popular baits are shiner minnows on colorful jigs. Anglers use a much shorter pole, often made partially of wood for ice fishing. The resorts usually furnish all the gear you need for a relaxing day on the ice.

As the ice fishing season gets in full swing a metamorphosis takes place. As if by magic, a whole community of shacks mysteriously appear. Mushrooming near the fishing hot spots, approximately 1,500 to 3,000 are set up at any one time. This may sound like a lot, but with a huge lake like Lake of the Woods, there is no overcrowding. Like vagabonds, the houses will follow right along with the fishing patterns. Many are portable or come with skis which can be easily moved. There is even a portable, invented by a local resident, shaped like an igloo.

Dark house spearing for northern pike is another popular activity. The first 10 days in December are extremely popular and productive. Spearing continues through February. Found along the shallow bays, the pike put up a good fight.

To order additional information or an Ice Fishing Guide Click Here or call 1-800-382-FISH.